HIV/AIDS

We conduct mining operations in countries where HIV/AIDS has reached epidemic proportions. So in line with our commitment to sustainable development, we are proactive and responsible in supporting our employees in both the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

We take our lead from the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Code of Good Practice on HIV/AIDS. In other words, we do not tolerate discrimination towards employees who are diagnosed with the disease. Nor do we screen for it during the recruitment process, or use screening as a condition of employment.

How we deal with HIV/AIDS

We have a global, risk-based strategy that has four key workplace components:

1. Prevention, awareness and education
2. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
3. Wellness, counselling and treatment
4. Monitoring and evaluation

Where we have operations located in regions with a generalised HIV epidemic (as defined by UNAIDS) we actively encourage all employees to know their HIV status through voluntary testing. In this way, each worker can take the necessary steps to remain infection free if negative, or avoid spreading the infection and access the appropriate support and treatment if positive. We also require that all employees and their nominated partner can have affordable access to treatment, care and support, including Anti Retro Virals (ARVs).

Ultimately, the success of our workplace programmes will be influenced by the ability of our surrounding communities to develop effective prevention and treatment responses to the HIV epidemic.  We therefore have strong commitments to support our communities enhance their capacity to develop sustainable HIV programmes.

On a broader scale, Rio Tinto acknowledges the enormous cost of supplying and supporting universal access to ARVs across Africa and that in the long term, the development of a prophylactic (prevention) vaccine is required to defeat this epidemic.  However, we believe that this is at least a decade away.  In the meantime, Rio Tinto is a member of private sector initiative, supporting research into a therapeutic (for treatment as opposed to prevention) HIV/AIDS vaccine in South Africa.  African countries have shown the capacity to support vaccination programmes, and we believe that the successful development of a therapeutic vaccine is an important intermediate step to complement ARV roll out, whilst awaiting the development of a prophylactic vaccine.

Our results

In 2007, Richards Bay Minerals in South Africa had 65% of its employees participate in voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), up from 16% in 2006. 900 contractors also participated in this programme.  Rossing Uranium Mine in Namibia and Murowa Diamonds in Zimbabwe both had over a 300% increase in VCT participation rates this year.  It is expected that all sites will set targets for an increase in VCT year on year, until our goal of all workers in high risk countries knowing their HIV status is reached and then maintained.

The Palabora Mining Company via the Palabora Foundation continues its support of the very successful Ba-Phalaborwa HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns.

Our QMM operation in Madagascar has developed partnerships at the Local, Provincial and National Government levels, as well as with National and International NGOs to support a variety of community-based HIV programmes.  Madagascar, which has an HIV prevalence of less than 1%, but very high rates of sexually transmissible diseases, may be at risk of a rapid increase in the HIV prevalence, if not effectively managed.  Our programme includes enhancing health care services, including VCT and treatment access, education and awareness campaigns to schools and high risk groups such as sex workers and comprehensive employee and contractor HIV policies and programmes.